Viv and Jackson bolted inside as soon as we got to the house.

"Where are they off to in such a hurry?" I asked as we meandered to the door.

"Pajamas," he explained. "They always do presents in pajamas."

"Ah," I distractedly said.

"What?" Billy pressed with a chuckle.

"You, pajamas." I shook my head.

"I have pajamas, and you've seen them," he admonished.

"You do, and I have, but... have you ever worn them outside the bedroom? You always change."

"No, because pajamas aren't comfortable," he noted as he pushed open the front door.

"By definition, pajamas are comfortable," I argued.

"No, they are... pajamas." The distaste dripped in his tone.

"So, if you hate pajamas so much, why do you wear them?"

"I wouldn't if I didn't have kids, but I do... so I wear pajamas. Trust me, when these two head off to college, pajamas are the first thing to go."

"Noted," I laughed.

"Okay, so we have egg creams," he added, catching my reaction.

"You do?"

"Yeah, I know that egg nog is the more traditional thing, but that stuff is nasty. Plus, the kids love egg creams, so a tradition is born." Billy flourished his hands around the kitchen as though sprinkling sparkles around the space.

"I can get behind this tradition," I agreed. "I was always more of an egg cream girl than a malt girl."

"Oh, I know," Billy griped as he pulled the ingredients out and began the drinks.

"Um." I twisted my face as he threatened to put the seltzer in after the chocolate sauce.

"What?" His voice cracked with annoyance.

"So, are you really going to go syrup, seltzer, milk?"

"Yeah, I've been making these for over a decade," he shot.

"Oh, okay. You've been making them wrong for a decade, but that's fine," I teased.

"Oh, really. Well, if you're such an expert, why don't you make them? And when the kids spit it out like swill, don't come crying to me." Billy backed away from the counter.

"Okay, I'll just cry alone in the shower. I've got years of practice." My words slipped from me with no real thought.

"Hey," Billy spun me to face him. "I was just kidding."

"Oh, sweetie, I was too. I cry in my bed when I'm alone like any self-respecting adult," I cracked again.

"You think you're so funny?" He kissed my forehead but let me return to the egg creams.

Billy and I had just made it to the living room with the drinks when the kids joined us, bickering over something that we couldn't quite catch.

"Hey, no fighting on Christmas," Billy shot.

"We're not fighting, Dad. We're discussing," Viv's sarcasm sliced through her words as she plopped down on the floor and picked up an egg cream.

Jackson settled next to me on the couch and picked up his own.

"Wow, these are good this year. The seltzer isn't as flat," Viv noted, almost to herself.

"Oh, really?" I said, as I tipped my smile to Billy.

"Yeah, good job, Dad," Jackson agreed.

Begrudgingly, Billy admitted, "Lil made them this year."

"The trick is to mix the syrup and milk first, then top it with the seltzer," I explained as I leaned into Billy heavily. "Don't worry; I can show you how."

"Mmhmm, I'm sure you can."

"Okay, ew." Viv motioned her hands in our direction. "Let's get this show on the road." Viv clapped her hands as she spoke. "For my dearest and only brother," she continued as she plopped a box down in front of Jackson.

"There's always a bit of fear whenever I open anything from you," Jackson noted as he held the package away from him as he slipped the ribbon off.

"Seriously, I thought you'd enjoy a mini pop-up tent. How was I to know it would pop up when you opened the box?"

"Mmhmm, you should have known because you wrapped it that way," Jackson lamented as he peered into the box. "Hey, guitar picks," he said in surprise. "This is an unexpectedly useful gift."

"I know." Viv smiled as Jackson plucked one out of the box.

"Wait a minute," he groaned as he pulled a handful out and fanned them in his hand. "They all have your face on them."

"Yeah, they do. You are welcome," she said, pleased with herself as Billy and I tried to stifle a laugh.

"Well, if nothing else, I now have proof you're picky. Not too picky, though, since you and..."

"Jackson!" Viv cut him off before he could finish his thought.

"Sorry, sorry," Jackson giggled to himself, causing Billy and me to exchange glances.

"Anyway," Viv continued. "Lily, this is for you. I figured since you are such a fan of computers, you could use one."

"Thanks, Viv," I smiled as I accepted the thin package. I carefully unwrapped it to find the backside of a mouse pad. "Oh, a mouse pad," I announced, and then as I turned it over, I added, "with a picture of Viv on it."

"Really, Viv?" Jackson laughed.

"I love it," I laughed. "It's very on theme."

"And Dad," she lifted a heavy box and plopped it on his lap.

"Let me guess, a brick with your face on it?" Billy teased.

"That would be silly; what would you do with a brick?" Viv chided.

Billy opened the box. "Oh, hey, it's a new bowling ball."

He pulled it from the box as the room, in unison, announced, "with Viv's face on it."

"You're all welcome," Viv declared.

"Well, I guess I'm up," Jackson announced as he dispensed gifts to everyone.

Viv instantly ripped into hers. "Oh," she said in surprise. "This is..."

"It's a jewelry box," Jackson offered.

"I know, it's just so... perfect." Viv's fingers glided across the top of the box with a carving of a queen from the game of chess on top.

"Well, you and Dad play a lot of chess, so I thought it would work," Jackson explained.

"No, I mean, yeah. Where did you get it?" Viv asked as she opened the box and let her fingers brush over the red velvet lining.

"I made it."

"You made this?" Viv shot back to him.

"Yeah," Jackson's tone was obvious.

"The top, too, like you carved it?" Viv continued to ask.

"Yes, the top too, Viv. Do you like it?" Jackson's voice was clouding with confusion.

"I love it. I feel like an ass for getting you a box of picks with my face on them, but I love this," Viv murmured.

"Don't. I don't want to see what you'd come up with if you tried to make a jewelry box," Jackson teased.

"Well, now I feel less like an ass," Viv griped.

"Do you want to go, or do you want me to go next?" I asked Billy.

"You," Billy smiled.

I opened my box to find wooden bookends; an intricately carved Lily was on the bottom L of each. "Jackson, these are beautiful," I said as I pulled them out of the box. "I love them."

"Really? The lilies are a little obvious?"

"No, they're perfect." I leaned in and hugged him. "Thank you so much, Jackson."

"Wow, I feel like you may like them a little more than my mouse pad, but whatever," Viv teased.

"I love them both," I offered, but held off on adding 'equally.'

"My turn," Billy said as he popped the top off his box. "It's a reel to reel?" He said as he pulled it out of the box.

"It's not just a reel to reel, Dad. It's a broken reel to reel," Jackson explained.

Billy pulled it out of the box and examined it. "Broken," he whispered to himself as his eyes gleamed at the project.

"I figured we could fix it together," Jackson added.

"Together," Billy murmured.

"Wow, I think we know who has won Christmas. That's a perfect present," I noted.

"It is," Billy agreed. "Jackson, you're my favorite son," he noted.

"Oh, come on. His face isn't even on it," Viv teased.

"Don't worry, Viv; you're still my favorite daughter," Billy added.

"Okay, well, I won't be able to top that, but I'll go next." I pulled my presents from under the coffee table and handed them out.

Viv shook hers and announced, "sounds like clothes." She then ripped open the package and held up the shirt.

"Where on earth did you find that?" Billy laughed as he looked at the black t-shirt with a broken record digging into a hand.

"I've had it. I thought I'd pass it along." Billy and I leaned into each other as Viv looked at the t-shirt.

"That was from my first band. I drew that for one of our last albums," Billy explained.

"Really? But it's so cool." Viv didn't lift her eyes from the shirt as she spoke.

"I'll try not to be too offended by that," Billy groaned.

"I love it. Thanks, Lily!"

To my surprise, Viv jumped up and hugged me before nestling herself between Billy and me on the couch.

"My turn," Jackson ripped into his present. "It's a used notebook," he laughed. "I guess you have some Viv in you."

"Hey!" Viv shot.

"That's a notebook your dad left at my place when I was in college," I explained.

"No shit," Billy said as he reached for the notebook and thumbed through his scribbles.

"Ah, Dad, language," Viv nudged.

"Wow, what a blast from the past," he murmured as he continued to flip through it.

"Oh, is it okay that I gave it to Jackson?" I realized maybe Billy wouldn't want him to have it.

"No, no; if I still had it, I'd have given it to him too." Billy handed the notebook back to him. "It's only half full," he winked.

Jackson opened it up and got lost in Billy's work from long ago. "Hey, I recognize some of these, but they're twisted."

"Isn't everything," Billy laughed.

"Okay, the last one." I turned and prodded Billy.

Billy carefully unwrapped my present. I could feel the annoyance peeling off Viv as though Tim were impatiently waiting. Finally, Billy pulled out the leather straps.

"Are these?" He paused and inspected them further. "Are these vintage?"

"Yeah, the guy thought they were from the mid-1920s, but they're real leather, so as long as you take care of them, they should last a while," I explained. "I thought they'd come in handy when you play guitar."

"They sure will. I love them. I've looked into them a few times but have never devoted enough time to find a decent pair." Billy let his thick thumb glide over the leather as he spoke.

"So, for those of us that aren't ancient, what are they?" Viv asked.

"They're sleeve garters," I offered.

Viv and Jackson busted out into laughter.

"Like garter belts," Viv joked.

"The same idea, but for shirt sleeves, and what do you know about garter belts?" Billy shot at her, causing her to turn beet red.

"Okay, I'm out," Viv responded as she heaved herself up from the couch.

"Wait, what about you?" I asked Billy.

"Dad doesn't give presents. He lets us pick something to do, and we do it," Jackson explained.

"Oh, that's so sweet." I smiled as I took advantage of Viv's vacated seat and leaned into Billy.

"I'm off to bed too," Jackson added as he pulled himself up as well. "Love you guys," he said.

"Yeah, love you guys," Viv added.

"Love you too," Billy called after them. "And Viv," he paused, knowing she would pop her head back into the living room to hear what he had to add. "Now that you and James are together, there will be different rules, but one that won't change is don't stay up all night talking to him. No one likes you when you're overtired and cranky."

"What? James and I..." but she didn't bother to finish. "Okay, I won't stay up all night," she agreed as she slunk out of the room.

"How did you know?" I giggled when she was gone.

"I'm her father; I can just tell these things," he started.

I just continued to gaze up at him.

"And I saw them kiss as we left my mom's place. Dead giveaway." He smiled with both dimples on full display.

"How do we feel about that?" I tentatively prodded.

"Great," Billy smugly said.

I cocked my head at him out of curiosity.

"James fears me," he explained.

I let my head fall to his chest to hide my giggle.

My mind drifted to work while I showered off the day: upcoming reviews, meetings I needed to prep for, and first-quarter initiatives whirled through my mind. I was still distracted as I slipped into the bedroom. Billy was already in bed reading his book. It was a simple moment, but when he looked up at me, a smile I had never seen before filled his face. It wasn't shy; there was no dip in his eyes. His dimples showed, but there was no flush to his face.

"What?" I skeptically asked.

"What?" He asked back, without adjusting his gaze.

"I've never seen you smile like that before," I noted as I slipped into bed beside him.

"Really? Huh, it feels like a normal smile to me," he murmured as he pulled me to his side.

"Mmhmm, what were you thinking about?"

He slightly hesitated before admitting, "how happy I am."

"Why did you pause?" I giggled.

"I guess I was a little surprised myself."

"Surprised?" I pulled myself off him to meet his gaze.

One arm stayed looped around me, holding me to his side, but the other lifted to his head. "You know, I have always told Timmy that I never wanted to be comfortable. I've been convinced that if I settled, I'd lose the ability to spark. You know? Without the friction, I wouldn't be able to create anything."

"Yeah?" I continued to push him into the thought, even though he didn't need it.

"Now, I honestly don't care. If I never write another song again, I'm not mad."

"What? Billy, music is your life?"

"Music is a passion and a job. The kids are my life, my family and friends are my life, and you are my life. And I'm happy. I wouldn't say content, but happy. And I'm confident in that happiness. That's the new part. I've always been so confident in you, but now I'm confident in us."

"And what has filled you with all this confidence?" I gave him a cheeky smile.

He shrugged before adding, "you, me, us, timing, life."

I rested my head back on his chest. "Merry Christmas, Billy."

"Merry Christmas, Lil," he murmured as his hand gently floated over my hair.